According to Bureau of Meteorology climate services officer Bob Schahinger, Ceduna has recorded its longest heat wave since records started being collected 68 years ago, with 12 consecutive days with the maximum temperature 35 degrees or higher, reaching a peak of 42.7.

Ceduna has also recorded eight days in excess of 40 degrees, which is also a record for March, comparing to its all-year record of nine days in excess of 40 degrees.

Cleve has also seen its longest heat wave since records began 51 years ago, recording eight consecutive days of 35 degrees or more, peaking at 41.3.

With a break of just one day Cleve has had a second heat wave over the past five days where the maximum temperature exceeded 35 degrees.

Elliston has recorded its longest heat wave since records started 46 years ago, with 10 consecutive days with the temperature 35 degrees or higher, the highest being 39.2.

Kimba has had 14 days of 35 or more degrees, the highest being 40.5, but the town hasn’t yet beaten the record of 16 consecutive days above 35 recorded in February, 2004.

Kimba and Kyancutta also broke their March daily overnight minimum temperatures, with 25.8 degrees for Kimba, and Kyancutta 27.4 degrees.

Kyancutta has seen 15 days over 35, 42.7 being the highest, but has not reached its record of 17 days in February 2004.

Streaky Bay has had 11 days over 35, the highest 40.6, not quite matching the record for the longest heat wave set at 12 days in January 1961.

These records come on top of 2007 being the hottest year on record for South Australia since records began in 1910.